First, let me say my choices aren’t for everyone, and some may think I am crazy. Many don't like the crowds, don't like the fish, don't like the parking lot, etc. But, since I first went to this lake 29 years ago I was envious of the “Old Guys” that could spend most if not the entire month fishing the lake. I now real appreciate my month on the water, the fish (no matter the year/size) and the people that also love this lake and area.
I will say a large part of this month for me is experiencing and surviving (weather) the beautiful life returning to the desert ecosystem. The benefit with staying the month is I can “go slow”, which reminds me of first meeting one of the “Old Guys” who was laughing at how we “young guys” were running around in such a hurry. He said “the lake and the fish will still be there if you go slow also”, but when I was young, I like many others and those now, that only have weekends, we try to smash in as much fishing as possible. But now I understand the message, I was walking by, not observing, not enjoying the entire experience, not seeing the beauty return.
Weather this spring was a bit different, we had some of the coldest nights I can remember. We had 17 and 18 degrees and then we had many 20+ nights. This made for some colder days also. Lesson from a couple of older guys, get a good quality down comforter and a indoor safe propane heating system. There also was more North and East wind this year, again more than any of us can remember. We also had several major wind events. I recorded 39 MPH sustained wind (weather station doesn’t record gusts), this made for a very tough night of sleeping (don’t want to even think about doing that in a tent anymore!). Then there were 3 days with winds of 20+ mph sustained. As is expected we had several rain events, but these provide for some beautiful sunrises/sunsets and they also seem to promote the color returning to the plants.
Fish as in recent years are “smaller than the good old days”. I have changed my definition of the “good old days” to just “yesterday”, the reason for the thinking change (besides age) is everyday is different and nothing in nature or man is stagnant. Since the WDFW has changed its planting strategy and management of lakes (quality, quantity) I understand what I am going to get based on the water I am fishing, “know before you go”. Also, we had one of the largest “big/boomer” chironomid hatches we have ever experienced and it went on for 3 days solid (glad I had some size 10’s tied up and tied more!)
Fishing people are “different”, whether gear or fly, in that we don’t have to know you in detail or at a very personal level but we have a basic understanding of each other’s “passion” or “obsession”. This year I was excited since I was limited last year with shoulder problems/surgery. Also, since it seemed that life was getting closer back to “normal” for most people and since some of my favorites are getting older, I was wondering who would show up! I really enjoyed that this year I met several “forum friends” and having family “first experiences” and my dad join us for the first time in 4 years. So, I didn’t get a chance to get out with a couple others, but there is still time this year. I understand we will all not get along or agree on everything (trolling, anchored, indicator, stripping) and I hope we don’t ever have to, because I enjoy learning from others and their likes or experiences.
Stats for now (not done calculating everything)
Days fished – 27
Nights in my trailer – 36
Avg hours fished – 5.24
Total hours fished – 141.5
Avg fish size (using a measure net) – 14.25 – 14.75
Water Visibility – 2 – 7.5ft
Water Temperature (1 foot down) – 39.93 – 55.90
Met new “forum Friends” – 3
Cookie Exchanges – 1
Tight Lines and Cheers
Shawn
I will say a large part of this month for me is experiencing and surviving (weather) the beautiful life returning to the desert ecosystem. The benefit with staying the month is I can “go slow”, which reminds me of first meeting one of the “Old Guys” who was laughing at how we “young guys” were running around in such a hurry. He said “the lake and the fish will still be there if you go slow also”, but when I was young, I like many others and those now, that only have weekends, we try to smash in as much fishing as possible. But now I understand the message, I was walking by, not observing, not enjoying the entire experience, not seeing the beauty return.
Weather this spring was a bit different, we had some of the coldest nights I can remember. We had 17 and 18 degrees and then we had many 20+ nights. This made for some colder days also. Lesson from a couple of older guys, get a good quality down comforter and a indoor safe propane heating system. There also was more North and East wind this year, again more than any of us can remember. We also had several major wind events. I recorded 39 MPH sustained wind (weather station doesn’t record gusts), this made for a very tough night of sleeping (don’t want to even think about doing that in a tent anymore!). Then there were 3 days with winds of 20+ mph sustained. As is expected we had several rain events, but these provide for some beautiful sunrises/sunsets and they also seem to promote the color returning to the plants.
Fish as in recent years are “smaller than the good old days”. I have changed my definition of the “good old days” to just “yesterday”, the reason for the thinking change (besides age) is everyday is different and nothing in nature or man is stagnant. Since the WDFW has changed its planting strategy and management of lakes (quality, quantity) I understand what I am going to get based on the water I am fishing, “know before you go”. Also, we had one of the largest “big/boomer” chironomid hatches we have ever experienced and it went on for 3 days solid (glad I had some size 10’s tied up and tied more!)
Fishing people are “different”, whether gear or fly, in that we don’t have to know you in detail or at a very personal level but we have a basic understanding of each other’s “passion” or “obsession”. This year I was excited since I was limited last year with shoulder problems/surgery. Also, since it seemed that life was getting closer back to “normal” for most people and since some of my favorites are getting older, I was wondering who would show up! I really enjoyed that this year I met several “forum friends” and having family “first experiences” and my dad join us for the first time in 4 years. So, I didn’t get a chance to get out with a couple others, but there is still time this year. I understand we will all not get along or agree on everything (trolling, anchored, indicator, stripping) and I hope we don’t ever have to, because I enjoy learning from others and their likes or experiences.
Stats for now (not done calculating everything)
Days fished – 27
Nights in my trailer – 36
Avg hours fished – 5.24
Total hours fished – 141.5
Avg fish size (using a measure net) – 14.25 – 14.75
Water Visibility – 2 – 7.5ft
Water Temperature (1 foot down) – 39.93 – 55.90
Met new “forum Friends” – 3
Cookie Exchanges – 1
Tight Lines and Cheers
Shawn
And thanks for the flies! You helped up my opening day fish count by 10!
